There are various ways, using our help, in which you can organise
affairs to the best advantage of yourself and your family during
your lifetime and on your death.
We should all have a say in what happens to our property.
Making a Will ensures that your wishes are carried out. It
will avoid family disagreements, help minimise inheritance
tax liabilities and be one less thing for your family to worry
about at a time of bereavement.
For relatives no longer able to manage their affairs, we
can prepare Enduring Powers of Attorney. We can obtain a Grant
of Probate or Letter of Administration and manage the estate
when death arises.
(Or - How to Avoid Expensive Mistakes)
Are you aware of the pitfalls of
not having a Will?
Have you been left out of a Will or received less than
you feel you are entitled to?
What do you do in the event of a relative dying without
leaving a Will?
Have you got stepchildren and not sure how to, or
how not to, include them in your Will?
Do you have children from a previous relationship
you want included in your Will?
Have you been appointed as an Executor of a Will and
not sure what to do?
Has a parent died and the Executor of their Will refuses
to provide you with details of their Will?
Are you fully aware of the costs to an estate if the
Public Trustee or any other non-family member is appointed
as trustee with a right to be paid for such services?
Do you know who can, and who can’t, witness
a Will?
Knowing the right answers could save you a lot of
money and heartache.
Blair Doncon has been preparing simple Wills and very complex Wills for many years. He knows all the pitfalls and
expensive mistakes to avoid. He can help you prepare YOUR
Will in such a way that you can be assured your wishes will
be carried out exactly as you planned.
As always, Alexanders Lawyers are upfront with costs.
For a simple Will the cost will range from $330 (including
GST). Couples each needing a Will, and for two similar Wills,
our charge is reduced to $440 for both Wills (inclusive of
GST).
Understandably, larger fees will apply where there are complex
assets and business structures involved in the estate.
Blair Doncon deals with all estate planning, including testamentary
trusts. Again, a quote will be provided prior to proceeding,
once clear instructions are received.
Alexanders Lawyers have a great deal of experience
in representing clients who feel that they have not been properly
looked after in a relative’s Will. Often no proper Will
exists.
Under the Inheritance Act (Testators Family Maintenance Provisions
Act) the Supreme Court has the power to vary a Will afterwards
if it feels that proper provision has not been made for either
spouses or children.
In recent years, we have helped clients through this difficult
process to achieve far greater sums than they were bequeathed
in the original Will or by the Administration Act, which governs
the situation where there is no Will.
Before a Will may be finalised and funds distributed it must
be accepted and certified by the Supreme Court.
The Court must also agree that the person applying for the
Grant of Probate is entitled to distribute funds according
to the terms of the Will.
For this to occur, a Grant of Probate Application is made
to the Supreme Court.
We are experienced in helping people do this, and assist
the Executor if required, in organising the final distribution
of funds as per the terms of the Will.
Where no Will exists, Alexanders Lawyers can help smooth
the way for the estate to be distributed properly to those
who are entitled to benefit according to the Administration
Act.
First of all, an Application must be made to the Probate
Registry of the Supreme Court for Letters of Administration.
Certain parties have the right to make such an application
to be appointed as the Administrator of the Estate. Letters
of Administration have the same effect as a Grant of Probate.
Alexander Lawyers are experienced in obtaining both.
It is at stressful times like these you really appreciate
the friendly, efficient assistance of a law firm who have
done it all successfully, many times before.
Talk to us about our fees for obtaining a Grant of Probat
or Letters of Administration. These costs are negotiable depending
upon the complexity of the estate.
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